The obscenity talks

The obscenity talks

Recently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan took notice of the content that is being shown on private television channels in Pakistan and directed Pakistan Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) to look into it. The notice was taken on request of some concerned
citizens.

Instantly after the notice and the apex court’s direction, there were three types of reactions in Pakistan, the first one, from majority of the people, commended the court’s notice as they too believed that content on the private television channel is getting
loose. The second one was from the so called ‘enlightened’ circles, to whom, there was nothing bad on what is currently being shown on the television, and while the channels should have the freedom in deciding to choose whatever they wish to air, if viewers
are not comfortable with it, they can always go about switching the channel.

The third stance was more of a political one. All those already suffering at the hands of judiciary (read PPP supporters) instantly jumped into the discussion with the clamour the court doesn’t have the merit to poke its nose into such administrative issues.
They it is exclusively the administration’s prerogative to decide on the matter and despite the fact that the concern is valid, if the notice has been taken by the court, they are going to oppose it.

Regardless of these three view points and their supporters, it is a fact that lately, the rating hungry television channels in Pakistan have been doing almost everything to grab the viewership. They have been putting up programmes that by no means can be
regarded as decent and one, by no way, can watch them while sitting with the family.

For an instance, if we concede to the point that it is not court’s merit to decide upon such social issues, one would still have to see whether there is an appropriate platform where such platform can be lodged and redressed. Unless such platform is not
available, court’s notice on citizen’s plea is timely and well justified.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=31266

Posted by Fayyaz Yaseen on Aug 23 2012. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry